Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide to chill through coldest day so far this year

A burst of wintry weather will send shivers across southeastern Australia during the next two days, with some places to have their coldest day so far this year and snow to reach low levels in several states.

A cold pool of air will spread across southeastern Australia on Wednesday and Thursday as southwesterly winds develop in the wake of a cold front. This surge of polar air will cause temperatures to plummet, with blustery winds and showers exacerbating the wintry conditions.

700 hPa air temperature on Thursday morning, showing cold air over southeastern Australia
Image: Forecast 850 hPa temperature and mean sea level on Thursday morning, showing cold air over southeastern Australia in the wake of a cold front. Source: Weatherzone.

Melbourne is forecast to reach a maximum temperature of 14°C on Thursday, although most of the day will feel colder than about 8°C due to wind chill. Until this week, the city’s coldest day so far this year was 15.8°C on April 18.

Thursday’s forecast maximums of 12°C in Canberra and 17°C in Adelaide would also be their coldest days so far this year. Other relatively cool maximum temperatures forecast for Thursday include 13°C in Hobart and 19°C in Sydney.

In addition to the winter-like temperatures, showers of small hail and snow will blanket some areas in southeastern Australia from late Wednesday into Thursday.

Snow could reach as far north as the Central Tablelands in New South Wales and is also likely to fall in parts of Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

The air could become cold enough on Thursday for snow to reach down to around:

500-600 metres above sea level in Tas

600-700 metres above sea level in Vic

800-900 metres above sea level in southern NSW

1100-1200 metres above sea level in the ACT and central NSW

Southwesterly winds will strengthen over southeastern Australia in the wake of the cold front, becoming strongest on Thursday and Friday. Severe weather warnings may be issued for damaging wind gusts in parts of Vic, Tas and NSW, particularly near the coast and in elevated terrain.

Image: Forecast wind gusts on Thursday afternoon. Source: Weatherzone.

Conditions will ease from Friday into the weekend as a high pressure ridge extends across southeastern Australia, bringing calmer weather and gradually warming temperatures.